“In this paper, we argue that increasingly over the past decade, positions that deny a link to environmental toxins and autism are based on relatively weak science and are disregarding the bulk of scientific literature. In this paper, we are not focusing on vaccines, which is but one exposure pathway, but on exposure to toxic heavy metals as a broader class, of which a vaccine containing a heavy metal preservative would be but one possibility of exposure. It should be clear that any link between toxins and
autism is almost certainly mediated by one’s genetic makeup, and that other toxins, such as organophosphates (Eskenazi et al. 2007) likely play a role as well.”

The article points out that genetics, toxic exposure, environmental exposure, sunscreen, lead exposure, and whether the body can detox/remove these heavy metals may be connected. Certainly, with mercury still included in vaccines and amalgam teeth fillings raises concerns to long term heavy metal exposure.

Those that took fish oil supplements for at least 10 years had less risk of developing breast cancer, while the use of other supplements specifically taken to treat menopausal symptoms such as black cohosh and soy were not associated with reduced risk. (Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, July 2010)

Photo Credit: NOAA

Kelp
Brick Cheese
Wheat or Barley
Sardines
Sesame Seeds
Almonds
Soybeans
Canned Salmon
Hazelnuts
Parsley
Turnip Greens
Collard Greens
Brazil Nuts
Dandelion Greens
Kale
Sunflower Seeds
Watercress
Garbanzo Beans
White Beans
Mustard Greens
Black Beans
Pinto Beans
Broccoli
Yogurt
Beet Greens
Tofu
Chinese Cabbage
Spinach
Walnuts
Okra
Cottage Cheese
Eggs
Brown Rice
Bluefish
Halibut
Chicken
Ground Beef
Mackerel

* The American diet has migrated to:
1) From whole foods to refined,
2) From complexity to simplicity,
3) From leaves to seeds,
4) From food culture to food science.

* The problem with nutrient-by-nutrient nutrition science is that it takes the nutrient out of the context of food, the food out of the context of diet and the diet out of the context of lifestyle. –NYU nutritionist Marion Nestle

* Four of the 10 leading killers in America are linked to diet.

* You don’t need to fathom a carrot’s complexity to reap its benefits.

1. EAT FOOD. Don’t eat anything your great-great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.

2. AVOID even those food products that come bearing health claims. The American Heart Association charges food makers for their endorsement… And, don’t take the silence of the yams as a sign that they have nothing valuable to say about health.

3. ESPECIALLY AVOID food products containing ingredients that are a) unfamiliar, b) unpronounceable, c) more than 5 in number – or that contain high-fructose corn syrup. All of them are reliable markers for foods that have been highly processed.

4. GET OUT OF THE SUPERMARKET whenever possible. What you will find [at the farmer’s market] are fresh whole foods picked at the peak of nutritional quality.

5. PAY MORE, EAT LESS. Americans spend, on average, under 10% of their income on food, down from 24% in 1947, and less than the citizens of any other nation! Paying more for food well grown in good soils – whether certified organic or not – will contribute not only to your health (by reducing exposure to pesticides) but also to the health of others who might not themselves be able to afford that sort of food: the people who grow it and the people who live downstream, and downwind, of the farms where it is grown… And, “Hara Hachi Bu”: eat until you are 80% full.

6. EAT MOSTLY PLANTS, especially leaves. They’re probably really good for you and certainly can’t hurt. Thomas Jefferson was on to something when he advised treating meat more as a flavoring than a food.

7. EAT MORE LIKE THE FRENCH. Or the Japanese. Or the Italians. Or the Greeks. Pay attention to how a culture eats, as well as to what it eats. Let culture be your guide, not science.

8. COOK. And if you can, plant a garden. The culture of the kitchen, as embodied in those enduring traditions we call cuisines, contains more wisdom about diet and health than you are apt to find in any nutrition journal or journalism.

9. EAT LIKE AN OMNIVORE. Biodiversity in the diet means less monoculture in the fields. Diversifying those fields will mean fewer chemicals, healthier soils, healthier plants and animals and, in turn, healthier people. It’s all connected, which is another way of saying that your health isn’t bordered by your body and that what’s good for the soil is probably good for you, too.

Here are listed concerns:

1.  There have been a large number of false diagnoses of breast cancer with screening mammograms.

2.  Mammograms expose women to excess radiation.

3. Over the past 30 years, mammograms have decreased breast cancer deaths by 30% in women over 50 years of age.   Women under 40 have received very little benefit using mammograms.

Other Breast Cancer Screening Processes?
What alternative choices are there to mammograms?  One alternative is thermography. Thermography is a radiation free procedure that uses infrared sensing technology (infrared cameras) to identify areas within the breast tissue that contain increased heat.  Increased heat represents increased blood flow and inflammation, which are associated with breast cancer.

The advantage of thermography is that it identifies factors that can encourage cancer growth.

Any questions, read more at Dr. Darvish’s website : Health Articles.

• Improves memory (Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 2000 May 31;78(1-2): 154-62. Eckles-Smith K et al.; Neuroreport. 2005 Jul 13; 16(10): 1129-33. Hashimoto T et al.
• Improves skin health (J Physiol Anthropol Appl Human Sci. 2003 Sep;22(5): 237-40. Nakamura H et al.; J Physiol Antropol Appl Human Sci. 2000 Sep; 19(5): 225-8. Kouda K et al. )
• Increases life span (JAMA. 2004 Mar 10; 291(10): 1226-30. Michel’s KB et al.)
• Reduces triglycerides and LDL cholesterol (Free Radical Biol Med. 2007 Mar 1; 42(5): 665-74. Johnson JB et al.)

Which plastics should you avoid, and which ones are less detrimental to our health?

Here’s a short checklist. The numbers and abbreviations are recycling codes, which can be found on the bottoms of most food and beverage containers. Common uses for each type of plastic are listed on the website below.

#1 – OK
#2 – OK
#3 – PVC, vinyl, V, polyvinyl chloride – May contain phthalates, plasticizers linked with birth defects and asthma. May contain lead, which harms children’s learning and behavior.
#4 – OK
#5 – OK
#6 – PS, polystyrene – Styrene is a possible carcinogen (cancer-causing agent), toxic to the nervous system
#7 Other – Polycarbonate, PC – Bisphenol A (BPA) is an estrogen-mimicking chemical linked with cancer, changes in behavior, and altered immune function. Bio-based plastics, which may also be coded as “#7 Other”, are OK to use.

Source: Washington Toxic Coalition

Here’s a couple ideas to reduce your vulnerability to stress:

• Try to get a balanced sleep.  Too much, or too little can elevate problems.
• Don’t skip breakfast.  We “break fast” after sleeping all night.  Without eating breakfast, our blood sugar can dip causing mood swings and crankiness.
• Exercise.  When low, depressed, cranky or sluggish, getting the body moving is better than caffeine, or chocolate to improve the mood and staying healthy.
• Stay focused on one task. Multitasking can cause distraction, leading to stress and frustration.
• Make that dental and doctor checkup appointment.  It’s just one part of the self-care, self healing and stress free process.

10 am PST

Live on Station 1150 AM   or www.The DrPatShow.com

Listen to Dr. Darvish as she discusses testosterone and human growth hormone with Dr. Pat.

If you are not getting enough sleep, your blood sugar control is disrupted leading to increase stress hormones, increased daytime hunger and appetite and finally, to metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic Syndrome is a condition that affects millions of Americans.  Your doctor may explain that you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high triglycerides and/or high blood sugar.  Any three of these signs along with an increase in abdominal girth larger than 34 inches in women, or greater than 40 inches in men is called metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome increases your risks for heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, and chronic illness.

However, if you enjoy enough regular sleep, as research as shown, you reduce your chances for weight gain and metabolic syndrome.  Sometimes, if nothing else is working for weight loss, sleep can be the best answer. The key is to get the right amount of sleep (7-9 hours per night) at a regular time without disruption.